A growing number of women may be opting for intrauterine devices (IUDs) as their birth control method.

A growing number of US women may be opting for intrauterine devices (IUDs) as their birth control method, a national survey finds.

That's good news, researchers say, since IUDs and contraceptive implants are the most effective forms of reversible birth control. In the US, though, they are still far from the most popular, with use lagging well behind birth control pills and condoms.

What the survey found

In the new study, researchers found that in 2009, 8.5% of US women using birth control chose an IUD or implant - with the large majority going with the IUD. That was up from just under 4% in 2007, they reported online in Fertility and Sterility.

"We saw some pretty notable growth," said lead researcher Dr Lawrence B Finer of the Guttmacher Institute in New York, a sexual and reproductive health organisation.

It's not clear what's behind the shift, but a combination of factors are likely at play, Dr Finer said. One is that medical societies have endorsed IUDs and implants. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, for example, says the devices should be offered as "first-line" options for most women, because of their effectiveness and safety.

Another reason, Dr Finer mentions, is that advertisements have probably increased women's awareness of IUDs.

Significantly more effective

The hormonal IUD Mirena can prevent pregnancy for five years, while the copper version, sold as ParaGard, is effective for about 10 years. The contraceptive implant, sold as Implanon, works for three years.

Dr Finer said the devices are "substantially" more effective than the Pill or condoms because they do not rely on perfect use. "They are basically 'set and forget' methods," Dr Finer said.

With IUDs, it's estimated that between 0.2% and 0.8% of women will have an unplanned pregnancy within a year. The rate is just 0.05% with a contraceptive implant.

In contrast, the Pill and condoms must be used perfectly to be most effective. And with the way people typically use them, the unintended pregnancy rate is about 9% per year.

With condoms alone, it's between 18% and 21%.

More could be done to encourage US women to opt for IUDs and implants, according to Dr Finer and his colleagues. In some other countries, the devices are much more popular: in France and Norway, for example, about one-quarter of women on birth control use IUDs or implants. And in China, a full 41% do, Dr Finer's team says in its report.

Safety of IUDs

Some doctors in the US still harbour misconceptions about the safety of IUDs. A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 30% of health providers surveyed had doubts about the safety of IUDs for nulliparous women.

When IUDs first came out, there were concerns that they might raise the risk of pelvic infection and jeopardise women's future fertility. So the original IUD labelling said the devices were contraindicated for women who'd never had children. But it's now known that IUDs do not carry those risks.

"Many doctors continue to have outdated ideas about who can and cannot use an IUD," Dr Finer said.

You may have to empty your pockets

Since the devices last for years, they are cost-effective in the long run, Dr Finer said. Birth control pills, for instance, cost anywhere from about $10 to $50 per month, depending on whether a woman uses generic or brand-name pills.

But if women don't have full insurance coverage of the initial cost - or have to wait to be reimbursed - they may balk at the higher price tags, according to Dr. Finer.

"That upfront cost can be a big hurdle," he said.

Dr Finer said that may change, though, with healthcare reform. The new law considers birth control part of preventive healthcare, and most health plans must cover it without co-pays and deductibles.

IUDs and implants can have unwanted side effects, however. With the implant, irregular menstrual bleeding is most common; some women stop having their periods altogether. The Mirena IUD may also cause menstrual irregularities. But it generally makes periods lighter, which is why it is also approved as a treatment for heavy bleeding. The ParaGard IUD has the opposite effect: menstrual bleeding and cramping can increase, though that may go away over time.

"There's no one best birth control method for all couples," Dr Finer said.

But he added that now that many couples are putting off having children until their 30s, more women may want to consider long-acting birth control options.

"Childbearing has shifted to later years," Dr Finer said. "So it makes sense to think long-term."

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The information on Health24 is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms or need health advice, please consult a healthcare professional. See additional information.